The Famous Cliffs of Moher: Worth It?
Nature creates landscapes more stunning and beautiful than our imaginations could ever dream. If someone gave me playdough and said, “Make some landscapes that human beings would want to see,”
Visiting Biscayne National Park (Are Parks Now for the Elite?)
Florida has never really captured my heart, at least not compared to the way it seems to have a love affair with many other people. Maybe because we are “Non-Disney
Best Books I Read in 2022
I still have so many travel-related posts to write, but these book-related round-ups are some of my favorites, so here we are! The best books I read in 2022. Reading
Our Monthly Tips & Trips: December 2022
December always scares me with its demands and yet I also relish it. Days that are busy fly by and resolve into a quiet week of peace and restoration. The
An Honest Review of the Most Popular Planners
I love a good paper planner. I always have. While I will pop stuff on Google calendar so Mr. Family Trip and I can stay in sync, keeping my weekly
The Best Classic Christmas Cookies to Make
Everyone has a different approach to holiday baking. Some love to gather with others and do one big afternoon of baking multiple recipes together. In our house, we take a
Travels Around Ireland: How Clonmacnoise Hurt My Knee, Visiting the Burren & Heavenly Lahinch
I know firsthand how adventures and travel are always just a slip away from injury and trauma. It really shouldn’t surprise me anymore when a moment’s misstep waylays a plan
Our Monthly Tips & Trips: November 2022
This post was supposed to be easy to write – and written last week. But here we are. I find myself practicing more and more moments of grace in regard
20 Fun Stocking Stuffers for Kids & Tweens
I love Christmas, and in particular, Christmas stockings! In my mind, stocking stuffers are where we have fun. We get a little ridiculous and silly and really enjoy it. Sure,
Fun Things to Do in Dublin, Ireland for the Family
Dublin is a raw city, with a big history and a large underbelly chained to it forever. James Joyce writes with both nostalgia and darkness about this place, yet popular
Visiting Lake Atitlan in Guatemala – and What Expats “Owe” a Community
It was an eerie feeling: to be dropped off by a shuttle bus driver in the middle of a town we didn’t know the name of, not really functional in
Our Monthly Tips and Trips: September and October 2022
The joys of fall, quick weekend jaunts, the best things I bought and the book that surprised me.
What to do in New York City During Christmas – How to Experience all the Holiday Magic
New York City at Christmas – it captures our imaginations, makes us feel like anything is possible, and encourages us to lean into the magic. The bustling crowds, the parties
A 9-Day Family Itinerary Around Ireland (where to stay, what to see, and what to know about rental cars)
Ireland. The emerald island people dream about. In the U.S. we celebrate the culture: St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns, Guinness, shepherd’s pie, sheep, rolling green hills, and tin flute music. We
Guide to Wineries (including the best and our favorites!) in Charlottesville, VA
We love living in the Charlottesville area. Between the fantastic hiking, the University and history, the nearby National Parks, the paddling, the hot air balloons, the access to so many
Super Easy Updates for Your Pop Up Camper
I love our pop up camper, Shirley Jean. But, truth be told, she was a bit outdated when we got her. Additionally, one of the previous owners had done some
Our Monthly Tips & Trips: July & August 2022
I like to pretend that I am in control of things – all the time – it is the great lie I tell myself. And it is a beautiful lie.
Best Places to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), or otherwise paddle, in Charlottesville, VA
A list, and reviews, of the best places to stand up paddleboard in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Best Places to Eat & Drink in Antigua Guatemala
Don’t worry, our time in Antigua Guatemala wasn’t all backpack food and CLIF bars. Antigua Guatemala is a place brimming with locally owned cafes, outdoor patios trimmed with lights, and
Hiking Acatenango Volcano Guatemala: Everything You Need to Know
When the white mist hit my face at 7:00 am and my body’s chills shook me, tears eked out. This wasn’t what was promised, socked in with zero visibility and
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: June 2022
June was, as my kids would say, EPIC. It was chock full of all of my favorite things: momentous occasions with my children as they grow, adventure travel with Mr.
Things to do in Bedford, Virginia
All I wanted after college was a big city full of opportunity and creativity. I wanted hum. I wanted constant movement. I wanted to be faceless and nameless in a
A One Week Clean Eating Plan, Recipes & Shopping List
Every now and again, I will spend one week bringing awareness and conciousness to what I am putting in body, to what I am eating. I spend one week “clean
Things to do in Staunton, Virginia
We love living in Virginia. You may recall from our personal story that we lived at a beach in North Carolina for awhile, but Virginia speaks to our hearts in
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: May 2022
May’s been called December 2.0Â – and it is fitting. It is a time of transition and change, of running to and fro to close things down yet also beginning
The Secret to Being the Sexiest One at the Pool
My friends and I who have kids frequently discuss how attractive our bodies used to be and how terrible swimsuit season makes us feel. We buy suits to cover up,
Questions to Ask Before Travelling Abroad
It’s happening! International travel is picking up again as so many put plans, dreams and trips on hiatus during a worldwide pandemic. I love Scott’s Cheap Flights predictions and they
The Case for NO Summer Bucket List This Year
The case for not having a summer bucket list and approaching summer as a family with love and openness.
A Really Great (seriously, a REALLY GREAT) Itinerary for the Family in Washington, D.C.
Taking the kids to Washington, D.C.: the heartbeat of our government, the scene of current events, and the pulse of our nation. It seems like a must-do at some point.
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: April 2022
As we reflect on our family trips and tips in April, it is a moment to recall how tender family life is. It is brittle, and on a scale that
A Weekend in Harpers Ferry (with kids)
Sneaking off to Harpers Ferry for a weekend in spring was highly anticipated and desperately needed. After slogging through spring sports, heavy work projects, rejuvenated social demands after a sleepy
How to Travel While Working a Full-Time Job
It’s hard to balance an extreme love of travel with a strong sense of responsibility or, even, just a desire for some stability. I feel it. I especially feel the
6 Tips to Make Packing Easy and Efficient
Let’s face it: packing for a trip takes time and care. It can also create stress. When you travel frequently, like we do, it’s nice not to have trip preparation
What to do for a Girls Weekend in New Orleans (off Bourbon Street!)
A guide for a girls’ weekend in New Orleans and what to do (off of Bourbon Street!).
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: March 2022
I am ready for spring, and warmer weather, a little relief, and some freedom to stretch out! Most parents I know are like us, in the middle of all the
Lagos, Portugal and Why Should You Go to the Portuguese Coast
When crafting our family’s itineraries for our travels, I struggle to find the balance between seeing the famous tourist spots and trying to capture the true essence of where we
What to do in Big Sky, MT – On & Off the Slopes!
We stayed up late into the night, exhausted and frustrated, but knowing a decision had to be made. As news of a big winter storm moving across the U.S. blared
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: February 2022
When I look back on February, the experiences are what are etched on my heart. (As usual.) I am sure we bought stuff, and I know I read a lot
What Happened When I Tried to Learn to Row & Thoughts on the Book “Beginners”
Last summer, bored and feeling as though the Enneagram 7 part of me was suffocating, I signed up for my own “summer camp.” My children were off to epic summer
Visiting the Endless Caverns in Virginia & the Utter Darkness
I knew it was coming. I had been on enough to cave tours to anticipate it. Yet it was still creepy. As the guide moved towards the light switch, I
Our Monthly Trips & Tips: January 2022
January was a long one, and it seemed most of the Internet felt that way. With snowstorms and ice blanketing our part of the world, we found that we were
What You Need to Know to (Successfully) Visit Peña Palace & Sintra
I had the suspicious feeling that our Tuk Tuk driver had just manipulated us into paying an exorbitant fee and was also silently laughing at our stress about making sure
Best Books (I Read) in 2021
I love books and I love talking about books and I love recommending books. So in line with tradition on this website, here are some thoughts looking back at my
What to do with Kids in Lisbon – and Why Portugal is Trending
We were so exhausted we were nearing delirium. Rain was pouring down heavily on us as we walked unfamiliar cobblestone streets. We didn’t know the customs, the language, or where
What to See and Do on Prince Edward Island (and why you should visit this Canadian island!)
When my mom and I visited Prince Edward Island on my (self-created) yoga retreat, I knew the island was special, but I didn’t realize just how wonderful it was. I
Going on a (self-created) Yoga Retreat on Prince Edward Island in Canada
Yoga is a passion and regular practice of mine for many reasons (I love it so much I sat for my 200-hour yoga certification) but, primarily, I feel it helps
How to Cook and Eat Healthy Meals (Without Working Too Hard!)
I am taking a break from our travels (but stay tuned because we still have a lot to share!) to answer some great questions I’ve received on how we eat
Skiing & Enjoying Winter with the Family in Canaan Valley
Last winter, looking for a ski trip that wasn’t as far as Vail, we ended up taking the family to Canaan Valley Ski Resort. Skiing and hiking in Canaan Valley
An Honest Guide to Visiting Appomattox Historic Site & Holliday Lake State Park
When life felt a bit too overwhelming and the Delta variant a bit too invasive, we did what works for us and we escaped to the woods. Pulling out our
What it Meant to Go Up in a Hot Air Balloon (& Other Thoughts on Redemption and Perseverance)
You may recall a deep-well of disappointment I fell into years ago. Gearing up for my 40th birthday, I had one goal. Yet the entire day was fraught with unmet